Base Instincts

This is The World Today [View in browser](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvdG5keHl3Znd5by8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Base Instincts [Formerly DailyChatter - Why are we changing our name?](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvemFtOHJtaXYzbi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) [Share Today's Edition](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvOHFuc3NmemFvei8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) [GlobalPost] [Listen to Today's Edition](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvbHltc3RmNHd1cy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) [GlobalPost] [Share Today's Edition](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvaWJsaDUyZzhuYi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) [Listen to Today's Edition](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvdmt0ZThqbjdmcS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) GlobalPost is an exclusive benefit for subscribers of The Charlotte Observer The Largest Daily Newsletter Devoted to World News Base Instincts THE WORLD TODAY — Thursday, September 19, 2024 Base Instincts Base Instincts Need to Know Base Instincts [Czech Republic](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvN3VpMTZscWV1Ny8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) The right-wing Freedom and Direct Democracy Party’s political billboard in Wenceslas Square in the capital Prague depicts a dark-skinned man staring into the camera. He is angry. His brow is furrowed. He holds a sharp, blood-stained knife in his right hand. He, too, is covered in blood. “Shortcomings of Czech healthcare will not be solved by imported surgeons,” the sign said, [according](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvMXd0MWhxYjlndC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) to Radio Prague International. The sign illustrates how polarized the political climate in the Central European country has become, a climate that will likely affect Czech regional and senate [elections](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvbWI3a2NkZGdyNy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) on Sept. 20. The election follows one next door where the far-right Alternativ für Deutschland (AfD) party won large shares of seats in the legislatures of the German states of Thuringia and Saxony. Forces that propelled the AfD to victory – rising xenophobia amid migrant influxes, economic inequality, higher living costs, and so forth – are also at play in the Czech Republic. This summer, for instance, former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš established the Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament, uniting far-right parties in Hungary, France, Austria, and others under one banner espousing national interests before all others. Patriots for Europe is the third-largest bloc in the parliament, BRNO Daily [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvMHFtdDBobzd5My8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). Summer saw particularly ugly campaigns for European Parliament races in the Czech Republic, too, [said](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvaGhzcHlkMW10bS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Balkan Insight. Babiš’s ANO political party is slated to win the most seats in the regional elections, added BRNO Daily. But ANO politicians won’t necessarily be able to assemble the coalitions needed to control their regions’ governments. Current Prime Minister Petr Fiala, meanwhile, is hoping his message of responsible government and fiscal constraint will win over voters worried about electing politicians who might cause more problems than they solve, [wrote](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvcW1uZGxwdmRraS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Bloomberg. Russia’s role in the election is also an important part of the electoral landscape. Russia has meddled in elections in the country and elsewhere before, as Deutsche Welle [explained](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvMGZyNmVmejZnNy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). Secondly, as Politico [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvbTl4d2JyZzNlbS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~), Babiš recently accused Fiala of “dreaming about war with Russia,” an indirect way of criticizing Fiala’s pro-Ukraine stance. Fiala’s [speech](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsveXZ3b3ZmYXR4ZS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) at the Hudson Institute in April provides a window to this anti-Russian perspective. His view is not hard to understand given how the country was under the Soviet [thumb](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvdDhwN2h1Z3I0MS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) during the Cold War and suffered an [invasion](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvMW00bTgydTlqMS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) by the Soviets in 1968 to crack down on reformers. Fiala, additionally, has been critical of pro-Russian European leaders like Hungarian Premier Viktor Orbán, the Guardian [added](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvdzR5amt1bHh1OS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). But he notes that in the political climate in Europe today, Czech democracy simply can’t avoid external influences. [Share this story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvYmJ5ZjJyY2JuaC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Base Instincts ~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvb2RydWZuN3lhaC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~ The World Briefly Deadly Tech Deadly Tech [Israel](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvdG9ld2dsZDF6ZC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) / [Lebanon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNHV4dnp4cTZldi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Hezbollah vowed retaliation after two waves of detonations of pagers and walkie-talkies across the country that appeared to be part of sophisticated Israeli attacks against members of the Iran-backed group’s communication network, the Washington Post [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvMTg2cm42aGxvMi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). Starting on Tuesday, thousands of pagers and hand-held radios – used primarily by Hezbollah members – denotated across the country, with analysts suggesting that explosives were planted in the devices before their distribution, likely as part of a premeditated operation. At least 12 people including two children died and around 2,800 others were injured in the explosions. Among the injured was Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon. A second wave of explosions followed on Wednesday with hundreds of walkie-talkies detonating, killing 20 and injuring at least 450 people, the BBC [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvYzE1ZG5maW1sYS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). The attacks shocked Lebanon as they triggered memories of the 2020 port explosion that devastated the capital, Beirut, and killed more than 200 people. Israeli officials neither confirmed nor denied involvement in the attacks, but US officials [told](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvMzU1Nml5d2M1YS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Axios that Israel had been planning the pager operation for some time, choosing to execute it on Tuesday out of concern that Hezbollah had discovered the plot. US officials said that while Israel communicated with Washington before the operation, they did not provide specific details. On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US “did not know about, nor was it involved in these incidents.” The explosions were aimed at destabilizing Hezbollah and its communication channels. Hezbollah relies on pagers and other low tech to communicate to avoid the risk of being tracked by Israeli intelligence through cell phones. This attack exposed the vulnerability of the group’s communication networks and could possibly create further distrust within its ranks, [according](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvcXNyNjg4OG9xMi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) to NBC News. Adding to the mystery is the origin of the devices: The pagers were manufactured by Taiwan’s Gold Apollo, though the company clarified that the specific batch was produced by the Hungary-based BAC Consulting firm. Both companies distanced themselves from the explosions, with the Taiwanese manufacturer stressing its lack of direct involvement. The attack drew international condemnation, with regional leaders calling the Lebanese government to express their concern and support. It also prompted calls for de-escalating tensions in the Middle East amid the nearly year-long war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas, another Iran-backed group. Hezbollah has been engaged in cross-border attacks with Israel since the outbreak of the October conflict. The group blamed Israel for the attack and promised a severe retaliation. Even so, both Israeli and US officials believe Hezbollah could retaliate militarily, but added that the fear of more security breaches might delay the armed group’s response. [Share this story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNW41MndlZ2ppdS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Feudal Politics Feudal Politics [Bolivia](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvOTI0MTR0cXc3bS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Violence broke out in Bolivia during a march in support of popular former President Evo Morales after counter-protesters blocked the route, underscoring an escalating power struggle in the country, Al Jazeera [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvM3h3N2twMjl3NC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). Morales mobilized his supporters for a week-long, 118-mile “March to Save Bolivia,” starting in the small village of Caracollo and ending in the capital, La Paz, after the current president, Luis Arce, accused him on national television of orchestrating a coup. Morales and around 10,000 supporters attended the march, including farmers, miners and Indigenous Bolivians, the leftist leader’s traditional base. Morales resigned in 2019, following mass protests that resulted in 36 deaths over his disputed reelection for a third term, which was deemed unconstitutional. The trek began peacefully but turned violent when counter-protestors blocked the route, deploying tear gas, stones and firecrackers. The pro-Morales camp protestors fought back, using slingshots to target the counter-protesters, [according](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvdmc0eXNtNmN4OC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) to the Associated Press. About 13 people were injured in the violence, including three police officers. Morales blamed the current administration for the violence, saying it had sent undercover police officers to instigate it. The government denied the charge. Arce and Morales lead different factions of the Movement for Socialism Party (MAS), the dominant political party in Bolivia. Morales was previously Arce’s mentor and appointed him as economy minister, supporting his candidacy in the 2020 elections while he was in exile in Argentina. However, the relationship between the two turned sour when Morales returned to Bolivia, seeking to regain power. Arce’s time in office has been marked by a lack of political unity, a divided Congress, a worsening economic crisis and an [alleged coup attempt](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvemY2Z2NqZWI0ZC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) by the military. Meanwhile, Morales says he will run again in the 2025 elections. [Share this story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvc280dDNoMnoycC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Base Instincts Our Sister Publication ~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZTE3MmNqenpvbi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~ Professionals at academic institutions, research organizations and government agencies around the world rely on World Politics Review’s expert analysis. You can too. [Get access now](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsveHR2aGszdWJ2dy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). Base Instincts ~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvcml0emI1NmlkOS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~ Show Me the Numbers Show Me the Numbers [Ghana](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsveXV0NHZoZzJ3ZS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Thousands of supporters of Ghana’s main opposition party took to the streets of the West African nation this week to protest alleged voter roll irregularities ahead of the pivotal general elections in December, the Associated Press [reported](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZ2lpdHdxc2g3aS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). On Tuesday, demonstrations took place in all 16 regions of the country, including the capital Accra, with protesters calling for free and fair elections. The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) said that millions participated, but that figure could not be verified. The protests follow recent allegations that Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC) failed to ensure the credibility of the electoral roll for the upcoming Dec. 7 parliamentary and presidential vote. The NDC accused the commission of including names of deceased voters, illegally transferring voters and deleting the names of eligible ones. The party warned that this alleged manipulation would favor the ruling New Patriotic Party. Complicating the matter is the recent suspension of a district EC director accused of conducting illegal voter transfers in Ghana’s Northern Region, [according](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvbWFiaW9qemgwYS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) to the Africa Report. The opposition is demanding a bipartisan investigation into the commission’s conduct, including an independent, forensic audit of the voter registers. However, the EC countered that the NDC’s calls for an audit were “misguided.” The controversy has prompted concerns of democratic backsliding in Ghana, a country that has been described as a model of stability in a region plagued by coups, political instability and extremist activity. Analysts said the EC must act swiftly to restore public trust. A July survey by the pan-African research group Afrobarometer showed trust in Ghana’s electoral commission at a historic low since confidence polls started in 1999, Reuters [wrote](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvMjg5aXc1eXc4ZS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). [Share this story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvenhzZTh4MDd5NS8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Weekly Quiz ~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNm4wOG82N2J2My8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~ Different Strokes Discoveries Different Strokes The Viking way of life was not for the faint of heart. Previously, scholars had presumed that the rate of violence in the Viking Age in Denmark and Norway was pretty similar, [according](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvY3I3ZjRzNzViYy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) to the Independent. But a recent [study](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvcHozNDk2ZHB3Zi8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) found that Vikings in Norway were more likely to die violent deaths compared with their counterparts in Denmark. University of South Florida researcher David Jacobson and his colleagues analyzed 30 skeletons from Norway and 82 from Denmark, as well as studied [runestones](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNXcwc2thaWhoZC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) to understand the societal structures and prominence of violence within them. The team found that 37 percent of the Norwegian skeletons revealed individuals who had died brutal deaths, from bladed or pointed weapons. However, this figure was around seven percent in Denmark, most of which appeared to be from executions – such as hangings or decapitations – rather than the result of individual combat or personal conflicts. Researchers also noticed that the Norwegian Vikings were more likely to be buried with their weapons, particularly swords, highlighting the culture’s association with violence and status. The study said that more than 3,000 swords from the Viking and Late Iron Age periods were found in Norway, while only a few dozen were discovered in Denmark. The authors suggested that the type of society also contributed to the prevalence of violence: Norwegian Vikings lived in more decentralized societies that experienced more interpersonal violence. In contrast, Denmark experienced less peer-to-peer violence because of its centralized society, which included defined social hierarchies and a stronger central authority: This was illustrated in its larger fortifications and also runestones that featured titles like “king.” Scientists suggested that this centralization meant that the violence was controlled and organized, likely displayed in the form of official executions. “This is quite striking, as the assumption has been that socially Viking Scandinavia was largely a singular space,” said Jacobson in [a statement](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZ3hwMWN1ZGsyZy8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). While the paper is based on some of the largest bone collections from the Viking Age, the sample size is relatively small and limits the certainty of conclusions, Live Science [explained](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvYmNtdnhmaW52by8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~). The authors caution that these skeletons may not fully represent the broader populations they were drawn from, as Vikings killed during raids abroad were likely buried in those lands, not at home. [Share this story](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoznrCP0RmaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvMWQ2OWE5bGhiOC8_bGhfYWlkPTE4ODMzJmxoX2NpZD1wcGI1bmQyZGVxJmxoX2VtPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5JTQwZ21haWwuY29tVwNzcGNCCmbrw_XrZgSRF7BSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg5QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAWg~~) Thank you for reading or listening to GlobalPost. Your comments are always welcomed and appreciated. 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